Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
February 27, 2008
Contact: Ani Garabedian
Tel: (818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR Leaders Meet with HCFA Chairman Howard Berman
Van Nuys, CA – On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, a delegation from the
Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region met with
Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA-28). Congressman Berman serves as
Acting Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (HCFA)
following the unfortunate passing of Chairman Congressman Tom Lantos,
who recently succumbed to esophageal cancer. Those in attendance
included ANCA-WR Board Members Steve Dadaian, Vicken Sonentz-Papazian,
Avo Ovayan, ANC Activist Mourad Topalian and Congressman Howard
Berman.
"We always welcome the opportunity to engage in a meaningful exchange
of information and ideas with the acting and future Chairman of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee," stated Dadaian. "During our meeting
it was clear that Congressman Berman shares our optimistic outlook for
advancing issues of concern to the Armenian American community and we
look forward to working closely with him to accomplish that task," he
added.
During the meeting, the ANCA-WR delegation discussed various issues of
concern to the community with Congressman Berman. In particular,
Congressman Berman reiterated his support for the passage of H. Res.
106 and for increasing aid to Armenia, especially vis-à-vis
petrodollar rich and warmongering Azerbaijan. The meeting
participants also noted Kosovo’s recent declaration of independence
and how comparatively, Nagorno-Karabakh also enjoys a strong case for
self-determination.
Berman represents northern areas of Hollywood, the eastern half of the
San Fernando Valley and the city of San Fernando. In 2007, Berman
served as a strong supporter of H. Res. 106, authoring a powerful dear
colleague letter espousing the Armenian Genocide resolution. The
letter discussed the classification of the Armenian Genocide as
historically accurate by the International Association of Genocide
Scholars and called for Turkey to recognize this crime against
humanity. On October 10, 2007, the HCFA passed H. Res. 106 by a vote
of 27-21, including supportive remarks by then-second ranking Democrat
Berman.
Berman has served in the House of Representatives since 1983
representing the 28th Congressional district of California. Born in
Los Angeles and educated at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), Berman was a lawyer and a member of the California State
Assembly from 1972-1983.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political organization.
Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations
around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.